DeWitt approves plan to use federal sharpshooters to kill deer

DEWITT, NY - The town of DeWitt has approved a plan to use federal sharpshooters to hunt and kill deer in targeted areas.

Town officials approved the deer management plan after a public hearing Monday night. Town Supervisor Ed Michalenko said the town will now apply for a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and hopes to start culling the herd this winter.

"We are thrilled,'' said Amanda Slisz of the DeWitt Neighborhood Deer Committee, which has been working with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the town for two years putting together a plan.

The town is basing its its program after the one used by the village of Fayetteville, which also uses federal sharpshooters to kill deer. Village officials there estimated the deer population at 110 to 120 deer per square mile before the program, and estimates in DeWitt are about 100 per square mile.

The norm is around 8 to 20 per square mile, officials have said.

DeWitt officials are hoping the DEC's new rules that hurt communities' ability to hunt deer on private property are overturned by winter.

Those rules include prohibitions such as not placing bait within 300 feet of a public road and not allowing firearms to be discharged within 500 feet of a building. These restrictions make it hard for communities to cull deer because they can only use sharpshooters in open areas that aren't near the road or homes.

DeWitt owns land in parks and some public highways, but would like to operate in more areas, Michalenko said.